Unhappy residents call for halt to road plan

Auckland Transport says 475 property owners along the planned Botany to Auckland Airport transport route have received letters saying their property is affected by the draft designation boundary.

Some residents have also been told they have to hand over their homes for the construction of the project.

Shocked and upset residents have written to AT, MPs and even the Prime Minister asking for the project to be stalled, and hope a meeting with representatives from the Supporting Growth Alliance — a collaboration between AT and Waka Kotahi NZTA — will bring some answers.

However, an AT spokeswoman said there was currently no funding to move the project into the detailed design and construction phase.

“This means currently no properties are required to be purchased by either AT or Waka Kotahi,” she said.

“The purchase of the properties tends to be approximately two to five years before construction starts, which is currently estimated in the next 10-15 years.

“The value of the homes will be determined at this time using fair market value as set out in the Public Works Act 1981.”

Resident Ali Shakir, who met with AT representatives last month, had written a “formal demand” asking for the project to be stopped until its full impact could be investigated.

The AT spokeswoman said properties on roads impacted include Te Irirangi Drive, Great South Rd, Ronwood Ave, Davies Ave, Manukau Station Rd, Lambie Drive, Cambridge Tce, Kenderdine Place, Bridge St and Puhinui Rd.

“The route protection phase . . . is approximately 14.7km — of the broader 18km project — which extends from Botany Town Centre in the vicinity of Haven Drive to Orrs Rd in the Puhinui peninsula off SH20B,” she said.

She said as part of the project, SH20B is proposed to be widened to provide eastbound lanes to Auckland Airport, walking and cycling facilities and a ramp from SH20B on to SH20 for southbound traffic.

Nine bus rapid transit stations are also proposed as part of the scheme.

The final decision on the project has not yet been made, AT said, and the proposed designation will be subject to the Resource Management Act process led by Auckland Council.

“This will provide a formal opportunity for people to make a submission and present at a hearing,” said the AT spokeswoman.